When the incoming communication secretary announced that they will accredit vloggers into the press corps, me and my Journalism classmates were aghast. The Malacañang press, which is known to be a prime beat in the journalism industry, will now be infiltrated by individuals who do not belong to any media outlet. What was once known as a hard-to-get assignment shall now become an open hall for those who wish for it.
We must understand that there is a big difference between vloggers versus journalists. The former, as mentioned, holds no accountability to any institution except itself. There are no checks as it does not undergo a layer of editing. What is seen is written, mentioned, and uploaded. Simply put, there is no verification. They rely on reactions, comments, and shares to sustain their livelihood. The more viewership they get, the more "credible" they seem to their audience.
Journalists, on the other hand, play a more tedious role. They are required to finish at least four years of an undergraduate degree in Journalism, Communication, or any related field. The lucky ones undergo rigorous training on speaking and writing. Their stories are not immediately released to their platforms, not immediately given approval by their editors. Because their name is on the line, they are accountable to the network they represent. On a larger scale, they are also accountable to the people for their duty as watchdogs. They live and breathe verification by interviews, paper trail, and other methods.
If these two are placed in the same room, then a critical press conference turns into a public relations stunt. The source, who should be answering the tough questions, shall have the power to choose whatever topic is comfortable to talk about. The easiest ones will be a priority; ones positively reflect them. These things are not present in journalism because they are biased to the truth.
What makes this situation even more challenging is the citizens’ growing distrust of the media. As an offspring of the disinformation campaign and the current administration’s constant maligning of journalists, people are brainwashed into thinking we do more harm than good. Every negative story is deemed wrong, even if it only posits an angle for deeper thinking.
The result of today's journalism situation is also the fault of the journalists themselves. They failed to fight twice as much as the troll army which has positioned itself well in the past years. They fell for surface reporting, where like parrots, they only repeat what the source said during a press release.
As vloggers step up their game to enter this already wretched industry, reporters should not lose their focus. They must hold the line for the truth in the hopes of a new awakening. We have fallen into a deep hypnosis because those with the power willed it. The intention to continue downplaying journalists is clear; to steer the narrative in their own direction. The watch continues.